Sure, you could buy a brand-new luxury SUV. Just like the one your neighbors have, and just about everyone else at the grocery store. Or you could park this 1963 Mercury Monterey Colony Park in the driveway.
It’s the ultimate family hauler from the 1960s—complete with a throaty big-block V-8, cubic yards of interior chrome, and three rows of bench-seat comfort. And wood paneling to boot.
item 1 of 16
Throw in the rare manual-transmission option, giving you an extra bit of driving involvement. If you’re an auto enthusiast with family responsibilities, there are no good reasons why you should consider anything but a classic nine-passenger wagon for daily driving duties.
Taupe, Gold and Silvery Chrome
On the other hand, you might not want to subject this rare, beautifully restored classic to daily use. There are precious few 50-plus-year-old full-size wagons on our roads. This one was repainted and refurbished to nearly new condition.
The main body color is an enticing shade of tan. Taupe? Camel? The seller shows a couple of photos where the car’s been stripped for a full respray, and it looks brilliant. The classic wood-like paneling looks straight, without fading or peeling, and the chrome trim and bumpers front and rear look exactly right.
Ford introduced the Mercury Colony Park in 1957 as its wood-grained flagship wagon. The Colony Park was strictly a four-door model and its extended hardtop roofline, with chrome luggage rack, were well-suited to comfy family road trips. Passengers could count the hours on the road with a snazzy electric clock, a standard feature.
A Mercury wagon advertisement from the era reads:
Extra flair has always been a Mercury station wagon trademark. Take this Colony Park. It's gracefully elegant. No excess bulk. Yet inside it's one of the roomiest of wagons (91.5 cu. ft.).
The wagon for sale on eBay is the 1963 third-generation model. From a 21st century perspective, it looks a mile long. However, compared to previous generations, this edition of the Mercury Colony Park is five inches shorter and about 500 pounds lighter. The slight downsizing means less heft for the 390, which became the Colony Park’s standard engine.
The condition under the hood is show-ready save for some light detailing. eBay Motors has all of the detailing gear - opens in new window or tab. you need to get this ready to shine on Saturday morning. Replacement bits for the Colony Park are bountiful on eBay.
Family Luxury
The interior looks just as great. The two forward-facing bench seats and a third folding rear-facing seat in the cargo area make the official capacity nine passengers. However, a middle-seat passenger in the front row will encounter the four-speed shift lever between the knees.
The detailing on the door panels is exquisite—row after row of padding, insets, and chrome inlays. There are manual cranks control front-row window vents. In addition, the driver has access to buttons for power windows front and back.
Our world has sadly moved on from full-sized wagons. First, it was minivans, then SUVs, and now ubiquitous lookalike crossovers have replaced not only wagons but nearly all other vehicle segments.
Meanwhile, the sleek styling of a long-roof wagon is the antidote. A top-of-the-line Mercury Colony Park might be too classy for a family trip to Wally World. Instead, take the kids to Vegas in this Mercury.
About the author
Share your feedback
This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.